Interest Grows in Philadelphia Flyers Defensemen

The Philadelphia Flyers may want to hang onto Sean Walker and Nick Seeler, but trade speculation on the two defensemen has increased this month.

The Philadelphia Flyers continue their better-than-expected start to this season. They enter this week sitting second in the Metropolitan Division with a 15-10-2 record and 32 points.

Nevertheless, the Flyers have become the subject of recent trade speculation involving their defense tandem of Sean Walker and Nick Seeler.

TSN's Darren Dreger recently reported Flyers management was willing to listen on every position (but not every player) as they look at building a better roster foundation for their future. He speculated that Walker and Seeler could draw some interest.

Walker, 29, and the 30-year-old Seeler are slated to become UFAs next July. Walker was an off-season acquisition from the Los Angeles Kings and carries a $2.65-million cap hit. Seeler, meanwhile, is completing a two-year deal with an average annual value of $775,000.

On Dec. 4, The Athletic's Shayna Goldman listed six clubs that might be interested in Walker. The Toronto Maple Leafs topped her list, followed by the New Jersey Devils, Dallas Stars, Winnipeg Jets, Colorado Avalanche and Edmonton Oilers. Three days later, Dreger speculated the Flyers could seek a first-round pick for Walker.

During Hockey Night in Canada's Saturday Headlines segment, Elliotte Friedman said he believed that at least one team asked the Flyers if they would be interested in dealing Walker and Seeler together once the time comes. He noted they're not looking to rush into any given how well the club is playing right now.

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving attempted to acquire Nikita Zadorov and Chris Tanev from the Calgary Flames before Zadorov's trade to the Vancouver Canucks. Perhaps he's shifted his attention toward Walker and Seeler, who would be more affordable in terms of return and contracts for the cap-strapped Maple Leafs.